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Minor Penalties #1
Two for Holding
Tom Crowler has been captain of the San Francisco Sea Lions for a decade of failures. With no cups or trophies to show for his time in the NHL, Tom retreated into himself a long time ago, and that’s exactly where he intends to stay until he retires. But when he catches the new team superstar, Jaxon Grant, in a compromising position, Tom finds it impossible to continue hiding his deepest secret behind a bland, pleasant mask.
Jax is everything Tom isn’t: loud, flashy, the winner of multiple NHL Awards, and—oh, yeah—gay enough to get traded to San Francisco because of a potential PR scandal with his old team. At first, he thinks Tom catching him means the next trade, the next rejection for being just a little too much for other people to take. When it turns out the two of them have more in common than talent on the ice, though, Jax finds himself drawn in by pulling Tom out.
As animosity gives way to a partnership neither of them saw coming, Tom and Jax are left facing new challenges. Will Jax’s impulsive nature put Tom’s deeply valued privacy at risk? Or will Tom’s reticence force Jax into pretending to be someone he isn’t? And if they can’t even figure each other out, how can they save a struggling NHL team from bad coaching and internal division?
Jax is everything Tom isn’t: loud, flashy, the winner of multiple NHL Awards, and—oh, yeah—gay enough to get traded to San Francisco because of a potential PR scandal with his old team. At first, he thinks Tom catching him means the next trade, the next rejection for being just a little too much for other people to take. When it turns out the two of them have more in common than talent on the ice, though, Jax finds himself drawn in by pulling Tom out.
As animosity gives way to a partnership neither of them saw coming, Tom and Jax are left facing new challenges. Will Jax’s impulsive nature put Tom’s deeply valued privacy at risk? Or will Tom’s reticence force Jax into pretending to be someone he isn’t? And if they can’t even figure each other out, how can they save a struggling NHL team from bad coaching and internal division?
340 pages, ebook
Published October 28, 2025
13 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
S.B. Barnes
4 books43 followersS. B. Barnes attended college in the Hudson Valley, studying English Language and Literature and Anthropology (although unlike her characters, her time there was not interrupted by crime-solving). She grew up split between the USA and Germany, attending university in both countries before eventually settling in Germany. Today, she works as a teacher and lives with her husband, son, and two cats. Fiction has always been one of her greatest loves, as a reader, as a teacher, and as a writer, and she hopes you enjoy reading her work as much as she enjoys creating it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
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September 24, 2025DNF at 28%, no rating.
I've really enjoyed this author's two Hudson Valley mystery books, so when I found out they were writing a hockey romance, I was aflutter with anticipation. Which makes it even more of a bummer that this was a big old miss.
Part of it is that -- look, we can all agree that the market is oversaturated with hockrom, right? And I speak as someone who loves hockrom! But we're now at the place with hockey where fake dating was in the years following Boyfriend Material*: so much of what is being pushed out in this space is just jumping on a trend and SO generic. And this, unfortunately, is that. Which is really surprising, given that the strength of the Hudson Valley series lies in its particularities: the unusual setting, the acute observations about academic life and its inanities, the relationship dynamic between a guy doing a blue collar job from a working class family and a hyper-educated, hyper-sensitive middle class dude. This, on the other hand, has nothing to distinguish it from the hundreds of other hockroms we're awash in these days. "Hockey" doesn't provide anything other than a convenient explanation for internalized homophobia, dudes staying closeted, and an added sense of taboo around a workplace relationship, the same way that "fake dating" became a lazy shorthand for a wildly implausible scenario for getting the MCs together that meant the author doesn't have to come up with something less stupid. Don't get me wrong -- both hockrom (RR, AO3) and fake dating (KD Casey) can be done well! But when it's not, then it's the trope wagging the dog.
Honestly, I probably could have persisted even so, except the writing was . . . not great. And again, this was so weird from this author! I mean, I remember thinking (but not writing in my reviews) that the writing was a bit rough around the edges in the Hudson Valley books, but this was on a totally different level: it read like an unedited first draft. Just super sloppy writing -- and not just stylistically (though that too), but also in how Jax and Tom were so thinly characterized, had NO chemistry, were prone to leap to the worst conclusions, and were pat to the point of simplistic in their interior monologues. We all know hockey players are dumb (complimentary), but there's dumb and then there's "the emotional IQ of a 13-year-old boy." I really tried to invest something -- anything -- into these characters, but there was so little to go on. As for the dnf: there wasn't anything particular at the 28 percent mark that prompted it; that's just where I happened to stop for the night. But when I went to pick it up again the next day, read one sentence, and let out a defeated sigh, I knew it was time to call it.
So yeah, a bummer. I still feel inclined to pick up a future Hudson Valley book, were there one in the offing; but now I know that, for me at least, hockrom is not this author's wheelhouse.
* Obviously Rachel Reid and the Game Changers series is to hockey what Alexis Hall was to fake dating romcoms; and to clarify, when I'm slagging off hockrom, I'm not going after her, because she's the standard-bearer for hockey romance and it's not her fault she got this bandwagon rolling, just as it wasn't Alexis Hall's fault that BM led to a glut of uber-mid fake-dating rom-traums.
I got an ARC from GRR in exchange for an honest review.
I've really enjoyed this author's two Hudson Valley mystery books, so when I found out they were writing a hockey romance, I was aflutter with anticipation. Which makes it even more of a bummer that this was a big old miss.
Part of it is that -- look, we can all agree that the market is oversaturated with hockrom, right? And I speak as someone who loves hockrom! But we're now at the place with hockey where fake dating was in the years following Boyfriend Material*: so much of what is being pushed out in this space is just jumping on a trend and SO generic. And this, unfortunately, is that. Which is really surprising, given that the strength of the Hudson Valley series lies in its particularities: the unusual setting, the acute observations about academic life and its inanities, the relationship dynamic between a guy doing a blue collar job from a working class family and a hyper-educated, hyper-sensitive middle class dude. This, on the other hand, has nothing to distinguish it from the hundreds of other hockroms we're awash in these days. "Hockey" doesn't provide anything other than a convenient explanation for internalized homophobia, dudes staying closeted, and an added sense of taboo around a workplace relationship, the same way that "fake dating" became a lazy shorthand for a wildly implausible scenario for getting the MCs together that meant the author doesn't have to come up with something less stupid. Don't get me wrong -- both hockrom (RR, AO3) and fake dating (KD Casey) can be done well! But when it's not, then it's the trope wagging the dog.
Honestly, I probably could have persisted even so, except the writing was . . . not great. And again, this was so weird from this author! I mean, I remember thinking (but not writing in my reviews) that the writing was a bit rough around the edges in the Hudson Valley books, but this was on a totally different level: it read like an unedited first draft. Just super sloppy writing -- and not just stylistically (though that too), but also in how Jax and Tom were so thinly characterized, had NO chemistry, were prone to leap to the worst conclusions, and were pat to the point of simplistic in their interior monologues. We all know hockey players are dumb (complimentary), but there's dumb and then there's "the emotional IQ of a 13-year-old boy." I really tried to invest something -- anything -- into these characters, but there was so little to go on. As for the dnf: there wasn't anything particular at the 28 percent mark that prompted it; that's just where I happened to stop for the night. But when I went to pick it up again the next day, read one sentence, and let out a defeated sigh, I knew it was time to call it.
So yeah, a bummer. I still feel inclined to pick up a future Hudson Valley book, were there one in the offing; but now I know that, for me at least, hockrom is not this author's wheelhouse.
* Obviously Rachel Reid and the Game Changers series is to hockey what Alexis Hall was to fake dating romcoms; and to clarify, when I'm slagging off hockrom, I'm not going after her, because she's the standard-bearer for hockey romance and it's not her fault she got this bandwagon rolling, just as it wasn't Alexis Hall's fault that BM led to a glut of uber-mid fake-dating rom-traums.
I got an ARC from GRR in exchange for an honest review.
Read
October 6, 2025Unlike some of my friends, I mostly enjoyed this. Possibly that's because I read much less published hockrom than most fans of the genre, so I'm not super likely to notice if any given book is samey. Also, I'm a sucker for narratives about overcoming internalized homophobia, which MC1, Tom, has in spades.
Unfortunately, the more I think about the book, the more dissatisfied I am.
- MC2, Jax, says a whole lot of disparaging stuff about hockey players' wives and girlfriends (gold-digging, etc.); eventually it becomes clear that this isn't about women, specifically, being mercenary but a reflection of his bad experiences with a couple of men. Meanwhile, though, it comes across as straight-up misogyny, with a whiff for us ancients of how some old-school gay men seemed to feel the need to justify their sexuality by denigrating women.
- Heteronormativity, why. When Jax and Tom get around to penetrative sex, both of them speak and act as if Tom is having "sex" for the first time -- he even calls himself a virgin -- never mind that they've been doing all the usual hand-and-mouth things for a while already.
- Even one earnest lecture is one too many. By the time Tom tells one of the other players that "When you use homophobic language, the person you’re hurting most is the innocent bystander who actually is gay and too scared to say anything,” I was done.
- Clunky exposition: "Team sports, from peewee hockey to the highest available professional level, had one thing in common: when things went badly for someone, especially one of the team’s big stars, it could drag everyone down." No, really?
- And gosh there's a lot of hockey, by which I mean not that games are described but that they're described in detail. I'm being a little hypocritical here, because I love baseball and as far as I'm concerned the more game detail in baseball romances the better, but I understand hockey on the level of being simultaneously wowed by the players' speed and grace, and horrified by the physical damage they suffer and the supercharged masculinism and racism around the sport. At a guess, that's about the level at which most hockrom fans (authors of RPF apart) engage with the actual sport. S.B. Barnes's afterword says she fell in love with hockey a couple of years ago, which probably explains a lot.
I have to agree, too, with the reviewers who find the characterization and romance a little flat. I liked Jax and Tom, but they didn't come fully alive for me, and nor did I feel the pull between them.
Thanks to the author and GRR for the ARC.
Unfortunately, the more I think about the book, the more dissatisfied I am.
- MC2, Jax, says a whole lot of disparaging stuff about hockey players' wives and girlfriends (gold-digging, etc.); eventually it becomes clear that this isn't about women, specifically, being mercenary but a reflection of his bad experiences with a couple of men. Meanwhile, though, it comes across as straight-up misogyny, with a whiff for us ancients of how some old-school gay men seemed to feel the need to justify their sexuality by denigrating women.
- Heteronormativity, why. When Jax and Tom get around to penetrative sex, both of them speak and act as if Tom is having "sex" for the first time -- he even calls himself a virgin -- never mind that they've been doing all the usual hand-and-mouth things for a while already.
- Even one earnest lecture is one too many. By the time Tom tells one of the other players that "When you use homophobic language, the person you’re hurting most is the innocent bystander who actually is gay and too scared to say anything,” I was done.
- Clunky exposition: "Team sports, from peewee hockey to the highest available professional level, had one thing in common: when things went badly for someone, especially one of the team’s big stars, it could drag everyone down." No, really?
- And gosh there's a lot of hockey, by which I mean not that games are described but that they're described in detail. I'm being a little hypocritical here, because I love baseball and as far as I'm concerned the more game detail in baseball romances the better, but I understand hockey on the level of being simultaneously wowed by the players' speed and grace, and horrified by the physical damage they suffer and the supercharged masculinism and racism around the sport. At a guess, that's about the level at which most hockrom fans (authors of RPF apart) engage with the actual sport. S.B. Barnes's afterword says she fell in love with hockey a couple of years ago, which probably explains a lot.
I have to agree, too, with the reviewers who find the characterization and romance a little flat. I liked Jax and Tom, but they didn't come fully alive for me, and nor did I feel the pull between them.
Thanks to the author and GRR for the ARC.
October 28, 2025
I have to admit that this started off a bit shaky, I was confused as to who was talking at times and the names of the side characters confused me. Sometimes of the names were similar to me but then instead of a nickname the first name was used. But this didn’t last long. I was all in after the first couple chapters.
Tom was such a sweetheart and if any man needed someone to show him how special he is it was him. Jax was exactly the right person for this! These two had the best slow burn ever! I loved how they were not sure about each other first but then became friends and worked so well as teammates. Just because they are both gay didn’t mean they just fell into bed, Tom had almost no experience so that wouldn’t have worked. The kissing practice was so sweet and I loved how they kept it at kissing for so long while secretly pining for each other.
I really enjoyed the entire team dynamic. There are some amazing teammates like Breezy, Luca and Phil but there are some less than favorable ones too like Vanderbilt and Hayes. And what is happening with the coach, Morris and the worst assistant coach Trout???? The ending is a cliffhanger for other characters and reading that the author has other books written has made me so happy!!!!
There is a lot of hockey in this book and I like that but it’s also balanced out with friendships and a budding romance. Tom and Jax end the book with a start to a strong relationship. The book ends in a bit of a cliffhanger for another character and knowing the author has other books coming made me so happy!!!!
ARC received for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own
Tom was such a sweetheart and if any man needed someone to show him how special he is it was him. Jax was exactly the right person for this! These two had the best slow burn ever! I loved how they were not sure about each other first but then became friends and worked so well as teammates. Just because they are both gay didn’t mean they just fell into bed, Tom had almost no experience so that wouldn’t have worked. The kissing practice was so sweet and I loved how they kept it at kissing for so long while secretly pining for each other.
I really enjoyed the entire team dynamic. There are some amazing teammates like Breezy, Luca and Phil but there are some less than favorable ones too like Vanderbilt and Hayes. And what is happening with the coach, Morris and the worst assistant coach Trout???? The ending is a cliffhanger for other characters and reading that the author has other books written has made me so happy!!!!
There is a lot of hockey in this book and I like that but it’s also balanced out with friendships and a budding romance. Tom and Jax end the book with a start to a strong relationship. The book ends in a bit of a cliffhanger for another character and knowing the author has other books coming made me so happy!!!!
ARC received for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own
September 23, 2025
Maybe this depicted a non-idyllic hockey player stereotype/locker room dynamic and that's why I didn't like it?
Tom is incredibly dull and boring. Yes, he has a backstory for why he holds so much back but it doesn't make for a fun MC to read.
Jax carried most of this, relationship-wise, but he also says a lot of misogynistic stuff at the start and that didn't endear him to me as well.
I didn't understand why he had so much vim for the WAGs, especially since given the hockey team he's on, his teammates that are married to them are objectively SO much worse.
In fact, the one good thing about this book was that Never Rock The Boat Tom stepped out of his comfort zone to call him out on it. Explicitly.
This doesn't eradicate the fact that Tom is only marginally better. Captain but has no idea what the WAGs do to supplement team morale.
The rest of the team isn't much better. Aside from Luca and Breezy(would actually enjoy a story about these two), everyone else is various degrees of racist, homophobic or severely checked out.
Including the coaches.
So this was mostly bleh for me, and even the subplot wasn't committing to a particular thing. Or resolution for the multiple threads.
The whole terrible coach(es) subplot is dangled around the whole book, with team captain Tom (how even?) occasionally threatening to bring it up to the GM(spoiler alert: he never does).
Basically instead of being a plot point handled in this, instead there's a reveal about it that serves as a cliffhanger to this story and a set up to the next one. Snooze.
I can invest in an underdog team going through a rebuilding phase as a multi-story arc. This one's just a middling team with unbothered ownership and coaching staff and mostly skating by (pun intended) players.
Hell, they don't even say anything about the coaching issues until Jax shows up.
The plot line with the LGBTQIA+ shelter was sort of tied in with Jax's coming out and that eventually went nowhere as well.
Though that one was less of an abandoned storyline and more of a unicorn resolution storyline.
You're telling me the MC who's been itching to come out of the closet his whole life and won't sacrifice that for anyone, and the MC who's spent his whole life reinforcing the steel his closet is made of and won't let anything interfere with its structural integrity decide to meet halfway in a 5 minute locker room conversation and there's no growing pains whatsoever as a result of both of them compromising a little bit on what they want in order to be together?
One of these was hyperventilating about the idea that another queer man might suspect him of being queer and the other was so eager to come out he's constantly having to intentionally stop himself from doing it during pressers.
And a brief chat resolved this? Even though realistically, they're both agreeing to something that terrifies them, for different reasons?
Right.
Alternatively, depending on one's perspective on things, the right reaction could be: Hallelujah! It's a Christmas miracle!
Truly, a Hallmark ending (that ignores the practicalities, not to mention the complexity of human emotion).
Yay.
Half a star for Tom calling out the misogyny and stepping up a lot during the book, but also-he's team captain so it's nice that he's doing it, but he should have been a better captain long before this.
Half a star for Jax being the best part of the relationship duo.
One star for Tom being SUCH a pillow princess that he truly thinks it's the baseline and doesn't even realize it.
Just lies there and takes it. Then gets plush gifts for how well he did.
Yassssss, Tom.
Tom is incredibly dull and boring. Yes, he has a backstory for why he holds so much back but it doesn't make for a fun MC to read.
Jax carried most of this, relationship-wise, but he also says a lot of misogynistic stuff at the start and that didn't endear him to me as well.
I didn't understand why he had so much vim for the WAGs, especially since given the hockey team he's on, his teammates that are married to them are objectively SO much worse.
In fact, the one good thing about this book was that Never Rock The Boat Tom stepped out of his comfort zone to call him out on it. Explicitly.
This doesn't eradicate the fact that Tom is only marginally better. Captain but has no idea what the WAGs do to supplement team morale.
The rest of the team isn't much better. Aside from Luca and Breezy(would actually enjoy a story about these two), everyone else is various degrees of racist, homophobic or severely checked out.
Including the coaches.
So this was mostly bleh for me, and even the subplot wasn't committing to a particular thing. Or resolution for the multiple threads.
The whole terrible coach(es) subplot is dangled around the whole book, with team captain Tom (how even?) occasionally threatening to bring it up to the GM(spoiler alert: he never does).
Basically instead of being a plot point handled in this, instead there's a reveal about it that serves as a cliffhanger to this story and a set up to the next one. Snooze.
I can invest in an underdog team going through a rebuilding phase as a multi-story arc. This one's just a middling team with unbothered ownership and coaching staff and mostly skating by (pun intended) players.
Hell, they don't even say anything about the coaching issues until Jax shows up.
The plot line with the LGBTQIA+ shelter was sort of tied in with Jax's coming out and that eventually went nowhere as well.
Though that one was less of an abandoned storyline and more of a unicorn resolution storyline.
You're telling me the MC who's been itching to come out of the closet his whole life and won't sacrifice that for anyone, and the MC who's spent his whole life reinforcing the steel his closet is made of and won't let anything interfere with its structural integrity decide to meet halfway in a 5 minute locker room conversation and there's no growing pains whatsoever as a result of both of them compromising a little bit on what they want in order to be together?
One of these was hyperventilating about the idea that another queer man might suspect him of being queer and the other was so eager to come out he's constantly having to intentionally stop himself from doing it during pressers.
And a brief chat resolved this? Even though realistically, they're both agreeing to something that terrifies them, for different reasons?
Right.
Alternatively, depending on one's perspective on things, the right reaction could be: Hallelujah! It's a Christmas miracle!
Truly, a Hallmark ending (that ignores the practicalities, not to mention the complexity of human emotion).
Yay.
Half a star for Tom calling out the misogyny and stepping up a lot during the book, but also-he's team captain so it's nice that he's doing it, but he should have been a better captain long before this.
Half a star for Jax being the best part of the relationship duo.
One star for Tom being SUCH a pillow princess that he truly thinks it's the baseline and doesn't even realize it.
Just lies there and takes it. Then gets plush gifts for how well he did.
Yassssss, Tom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
Hockey book, deeply closeted uptight team captain gets a more flamboyant gay teammate who wants to come out. Definitely part of a connected series, there is a plot with the coach and eventually an injured player which clear has a lot more to it (and they all got to do something about a sadistic assistant coach) and hints about another player.
Its tone is realistic, a bit grittier, mean spirited social media posts as contrast to why exactly Tom really does not feel like coming out, some misogynic comments (mostly addressed, but showing it is underlying part of the real culture which fair enough is likely) and plenty of backstory to both MCs. I respected it, and I mean to try more, other books by the author. But there was something suffocating here, the social media reactions so mean (and one of the MCs signs up for instagram and gets exposed to more), the ending while realistic was not quite what one of the MCs really wanted, the coach/trainer situation not resolved. It did not give me any satisfactory romance brain chemical hit - not that it is "anti"-romance to so speak and like I said I respect it a lot. Real rating 3.5 stars rounding up because I think there is talent here and it's trying to do something interesting even if it does not quite do it right for me.
Its tone is realistic, a bit grittier, mean spirited social media posts as contrast to why exactly Tom really does not feel like coming out, some misogynic comments (mostly addressed, but showing it is underlying part of the real culture which fair enough is likely) and plenty of backstory to both MCs. I respected it, and I mean to try more, other books by the author. But there was something suffocating here, the social media reactions so mean (and one of the MCs signs up for instagram and gets exposed to more), the ending while realistic was not quite what one of the MCs really wanted, the coach/trainer situation not resolved. It did not give me any satisfactory romance brain chemical hit - not that it is "anti"-romance to so speak and like I said I respect it a lot. Real rating 3.5 stars rounding up because I think there is talent here and it's trying to do something interesting even if it does not quite do it right for me.
January 11, 2026
loved this so much i kept putting it down to prolong it
January 30, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
This is the first book in a new series by S.B. Barnes and it takes readers into the world of hockey, and players who couldn’t be more opposite, but find a connection that can’t be ignored. There was a lot I liked about this book, and some parts that didn’t work as well for me. Jax and Tom are two MCs who deserve to shine in the spotlight, and the author makes sure they do.
I particularly liked how much Barnes played on their differences, and yet showed the layers underneath. These MCs are well rounded and complex.
Read Kris’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
This is the first book in a new series by S.B. Barnes and it takes readers into the world of hockey, and players who couldn’t be more opposite, but find a connection that can’t be ignored. There was a lot I liked about this book, and some parts that didn’t work as well for me. Jax and Tom are two MCs who deserve to shine in the spotlight, and the author makes sure they do.
I particularly liked how much Barnes played on their differences, and yet showed the layers underneath. These MCs are well rounded and complex.
Read Kris’s review in its entirety here.
October 30, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up
Disclaimer-I'm not the most well versed hockey romance reader; I haven't read some of the touchstone books of the subgenre and I don't watch the sport. However, I read this author's mystery duology earlier this year and loved those books, so was eager to snag a review copy of this book when it popped up. And I'm very glad I did!
This book isn't trying to break new ground, but I was very impressed with the emotional landscape we travel with our MCs. We get a freewheeling (impulsive) on the verge of coming out hotshot and an emotionally constipated for all intents and purposes virgin captain. Jax, newly transferred and feeling frustrated that he had to leave his old team under a cloud, joins this new team with perhaps not the best attitude. Tom is a modern ascetic; if they made hockey jerseys lined with haircloth, I'm sure he'd have several in rotation. Both are not the best versions of themselves when we meet them, which allows room for them to grow.
For example, the way Jax slowly works on Tom's sense of self worth and that allowing himself comfort isn't weakness . . . I don't think I've ever seen that particular aspect of romance highlighted so much in an m/m romance. It was refreshing and kind of adorable to read. (The SWEATERS, tho.)
I almost name-checked another popular hockey romance I have read, but I'll just say that the team dysfunction in Two for Holding feels realistic and relatable. And the way they start to build relationships throughout the team when Jax arrives and changes Tom's perspective of himself and how he has been leading the team versus how he could be a better captain--I really appreciated the way this book developed the team's burgeoning camaraderie.
This book has a great balance between the core romantic relationship and the team starting to coalesce around the same MCs as a new captain/alternate pairing on the ice and in the locker room.
I fully expect to re-read this in future, and I am looking forward to book 2!
Many thanks to GRR for the review copy
Disclaimer-I'm not the most well versed hockey romance reader; I haven't read some of the touchstone books of the subgenre and I don't watch the sport. However, I read this author's mystery duology earlier this year and loved those books, so was eager to snag a review copy of this book when it popped up. And I'm very glad I did!
This book isn't trying to break new ground, but I was very impressed with the emotional landscape we travel with our MCs. We get a freewheeling (impulsive) on the verge of coming out hotshot and an emotionally constipated for all intents and purposes virgin captain. Jax, newly transferred and feeling frustrated that he had to leave his old team under a cloud, joins this new team with perhaps not the best attitude. Tom is a modern ascetic; if they made hockey jerseys lined with haircloth, I'm sure he'd have several in rotation. Both are not the best versions of themselves when we meet them, which allows room for them to grow.
For example, the way Jax slowly works on Tom's sense of self worth and that allowing himself comfort isn't weakness . . . I don't think I've ever seen that particular aspect of romance highlighted so much in an m/m romance. It was refreshing and kind of adorable to read. (The SWEATERS, tho.)
I almost name-checked another popular hockey romance I have read, but I'll just say that the team dysfunction in Two for Holding feels realistic and relatable. And the way they start to build relationships throughout the team when Jax arrives and changes Tom's perspective of himself and how he has been leading the team versus how he could be a better captain--I really appreciated the way this book developed the team's burgeoning camaraderie.
This book has a great balance between the core romantic relationship and the team starting to coalesce around the same MCs as a new captain/alternate pairing on the ice and in the locker room.
I fully expect to re-read this in future, and I am looking forward to book 2!
Many thanks to GRR for the review copy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2025
I absolutely love a hockey romance, but there are so many of them now that it’s hard to find a unique storyline when reading one.
This book follows two closeted characters who stay closeted throughout. They do make plans for their future, and the series is to be continued, so I’m assuming we will get updates on how that goes, but I guess for all intents and purposes, they end up together and they’re happy about their current situation, so it’s a HEA.
It’s a tried and tested plot, and although nothing new is brought to the table, it’s enjoyable enough. Jax and the side characters are good; there are a few bad topics here and there from all of them, but that is what the story is centred around.
Tom, I wasn’t so sure about; everything seems to be a mystery with him. It unfortunately doesn’t make him exciting; completely the opposite, he comes across as a 30-odd-year-old man who can’t stick up for himself and does absolutely nothing but work. So a little boring.
I get that it is going to be a series, but there were just too many unanswered questions or plots that were not followed through enough to make me want more. Lots of little intriguing issues that take off but go nowhere. I was definitely interested but the more I read I realised the story just doesn’t feel finished, not even Tom and Jax’s.
Hopefully the second book will work out these kinks and give us the answers we need.
………………………………………………………….
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.
This book follows two closeted characters who stay closeted throughout. They do make plans for their future, and the series is to be continued, so I’m assuming we will get updates on how that goes, but I guess for all intents and purposes, they end up together and they’re happy about their current situation, so it’s a HEA.
It’s a tried and tested plot, and although nothing new is brought to the table, it’s enjoyable enough. Jax and the side characters are good; there are a few bad topics here and there from all of them, but that is what the story is centred around.
Tom, I wasn’t so sure about; everything seems to be a mystery with him. It unfortunately doesn’t make him exciting; completely the opposite, he comes across as a 30-odd-year-old man who can’t stick up for himself and does absolutely nothing but work. So a little boring.
I get that it is going to be a series, but there were just too many unanswered questions or plots that were not followed through enough to make me want more. Lots of little intriguing issues that take off but go nowhere. I was definitely interested but the more I read I realised the story just doesn’t feel finished, not even Tom and Jax’s.
Hopefully the second book will work out these kinks and give us the answers we need.
………………………………………………………….
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.
October 26, 2025
ARC Review
*mild spoilers ahead*
⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I was really torn about how to rate this book. On one hand, it was an enjoyable read, but there wasn’t much going on in terms of plot, the focus apparently is supposed to be more on character development.
Basically, a closeted gay hockey player gets caught up in a tricky situation and is traded to another team, where he meets another closeted player. After some misunderstandings, they start to connect, forming a friendship that eventually turns into a romantic relationship. That’s pretty much the premise that carries the whole story.
In between, they deal with some side stuff: there’s something suspicious happening with the coaching staff, a pretty colorful cast of teammates, including some young, cool rookies, some bigoted veterans, and a close friend who’s nearing the end of his career. There’s one set of awesome parents and another set of terrible ones.
And then there’s Tom and Jax. Tom is the team captain, mainly because he’s spent all 13 years of his career with the team, but he has zero people skills. He’s distant, bland, and lives next to the practice rink; basically, hockey is his whole personality.
Jax is the young superstar who arrives after a successful run on his old team. He’s outgoing, stylish, and even though he’s not out, he doesn’t really hold himself back. That’s actually why he ends up in San Francisco: he was a little careless about his hookups and his former team didn’t want to deal with the drama, so they sent him packing. They’re total opposites, but since they share some of the same struggles, they naturally gravitate toward each other.
Which brings me to the reason why I’m so conflicted…It felt... utilitary at first? No chemistry detected. And, I honestly didn’t like either of the main characters. I can’t say I hated them, that would mean they drew some emotion. They’re just... meh.
Tom is boring, that’s the only word I can think of when it comes to him. He has no personality beyond being terrified of being outed, to the point of being ridiculous. Apparently, some early experience led to his internalized homophobia, and supposedly his parents weren’t great either, but there’s no explanation about either situation, so it’s hard to tell.
Jax, on the other hand, is reckless (he brings a hookup to his hotel during his first road game with the new team, which shows he hasn’t learned from his mistakes). He hates hiding, and can't wait to be out so he can finally be himself. He also has a very problematic view of the women around the team, which, I get it, stems from his bad experiences with men, but honestly just sounds like misogyny.
Eventually, both characters end up compromising, but it doesn’t feel satisfying. Jax, who wants to come out and live freely, ends up staying in the closet for Tom. Tom is still terrified of being outed but is willing to risk it for Jax. When the book ends, they’re still keeping their relationship a secret. Nobody except Breezy (the only truly likable character in the whole book) knows about them, and that’s only because he overheard them talking. They never declare their love for each other, and none of the conflicts are really resolved.
The jerk teammates are still jerks, we never find out what Tom’s parents did, and there’s no clue about what happens with the coaching situation. In fact, the book ends on a cliffhanger regarding that. Apparently, it’ll be resolved in the next book.
And that’s it. I can’t say I really loved this book, but I didn’t dislike it either. I couldn’t connect to the characters, which is a big deal for me when giving a rate, but the story kept me interested enough to read to the end.
Not much to say about the writing style, I guess it’s good enough, but I don’t get the whole social media gimmick at the start of each chapter. It doesn’t add anything to the story.
Anyway, I’ll probably forget most of it in a couple weeks. If my gut is right (and it usually is with stuff like this), the next book will be about Phil and the head coach, already forgot his name. Honestly, I’d love it if Breezy and Luca, the only memorable side characters, got their own bi awakening story, but I’m not holding my breath.
-----
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
*mild spoilers ahead*
⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I was really torn about how to rate this book. On one hand, it was an enjoyable read, but there wasn’t much going on in terms of plot, the focus apparently is supposed to be more on character development.
Basically, a closeted gay hockey player gets caught up in a tricky situation and is traded to another team, where he meets another closeted player. After some misunderstandings, they start to connect, forming a friendship that eventually turns into a romantic relationship. That’s pretty much the premise that carries the whole story.
In between, they deal with some side stuff: there’s something suspicious happening with the coaching staff, a pretty colorful cast of teammates, including some young, cool rookies, some bigoted veterans, and a close friend who’s nearing the end of his career. There’s one set of awesome parents and another set of terrible ones.
And then there’s Tom and Jax. Tom is the team captain, mainly because he’s spent all 13 years of his career with the team, but he has zero people skills. He’s distant, bland, and lives next to the practice rink; basically, hockey is his whole personality.
Jax is the young superstar who arrives after a successful run on his old team. He’s outgoing, stylish, and even though he’s not out, he doesn’t really hold himself back. That’s actually why he ends up in San Francisco: he was a little careless about his hookups and his former team didn’t want to deal with the drama, so they sent him packing. They’re total opposites, but since they share some of the same struggles, they naturally gravitate toward each other.
Which brings me to the reason why I’m so conflicted…It felt... utilitary at first? No chemistry detected. And, I honestly didn’t like either of the main characters. I can’t say I hated them, that would mean they drew some emotion. They’re just... meh.
Tom is boring, that’s the only word I can think of when it comes to him. He has no personality beyond being terrified of being outed, to the point of being ridiculous. Apparently, some early experience led to his internalized homophobia, and supposedly his parents weren’t great either, but there’s no explanation about either situation, so it’s hard to tell.
Jax, on the other hand, is reckless (he brings a hookup to his hotel during his first road game with the new team, which shows he hasn’t learned from his mistakes). He hates hiding, and can't wait to be out so he can finally be himself. He also has a very problematic view of the women around the team, which, I get it, stems from his bad experiences with men, but honestly just sounds like misogyny.
Eventually, both characters end up compromising, but it doesn’t feel satisfying. Jax, who wants to come out and live freely, ends up staying in the closet for Tom. Tom is still terrified of being outed but is willing to risk it for Jax. When the book ends, they’re still keeping their relationship a secret. Nobody except Breezy (the only truly likable character in the whole book) knows about them, and that’s only because he overheard them talking. They never declare their love for each other, and none of the conflicts are really resolved.
The jerk teammates are still jerks, we never find out what Tom’s parents did, and there’s no clue about what happens with the coaching situation. In fact, the book ends on a cliffhanger regarding that. Apparently, it’ll be resolved in the next book.
And that’s it. I can’t say I really loved this book, but I didn’t dislike it either. I couldn’t connect to the characters, which is a big deal for me when giving a rate, but the story kept me interested enough to read to the end.
Not much to say about the writing style, I guess it’s good enough, but I don’t get the whole social media gimmick at the start of each chapter. It doesn’t add anything to the story.
Anyway, I’ll probably forget most of it in a couple weeks. If my gut is right (and it usually is with stuff like this), the next book will be about Phil and the head coach, already forgot his name. Honestly, I’d love it if Breezy and Luca, the only memorable side characters, got their own bi awakening story, but I’m not holding my breath.
-----
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
February 20, 2026
This story just made me swoon! Tom is an athlete at the top of his game. He is the Captain of the San Francisco Sea Lions. The team is moderately successful, making the playoffs for several years, but has never gone all the way. They bring in Jax, hoping to change that. During a road trip, Tom sees a man leaving Jax's room and discovers his secret. Jax was traded away from his team because he is gay. Tom not only keeps his secret but eventually comes out to Jax himself. They bond while working on uplifting their team on the ice and off. The conflict comes when they navigate if and when they should come out. The decision they reached was unique and refreshing. I can't wait to dive into the next book.
October 2, 2025
Last year I stumbled into this author from a random thread post about mechanics and murder. I got curious, and decided to give the books a try. I loved them. I’m not going to lie I was a bit nervous requesting the arc for this one, cause Hockey romance is very different to murder mysteries. But I’m very happy I did.
I loved this book. It ain’t perfect but the vibes? Spectacular. The dynamic between the MCs was perfect. From animosity to friends to lovers. Older inexperienced guy in need of all the pampering? Yes please. Tom deserves all the soft things in life.
I could have done without the social media comments. They always feel so fake when written done. Some or two worked but the rest felt quite forced (even though I’m very sure I would find those comments in real Instagram posts).
TLDR, It gave my cold heart all the butterflies. Kicking my feet. The vibes were exquisite. Will re read. Will buy when it’s out.
I loved this book. It ain’t perfect but the vibes? Spectacular. The dynamic between the MCs was perfect. From animosity to friends to lovers. Older inexperienced guy in need of all the pampering? Yes please. Tom deserves all the soft things in life.
I could have done without the social media comments. They always feel so fake when written done. Some or two worked but the rest felt quite forced (even though I’m very sure I would find those comments in real Instagram posts).
TLDR, It gave my cold heart all the butterflies. Kicking my feet. The vibes were exquisite. Will re read. Will buy when it’s out.
January 19, 2026
Older team captain and new hotshot superstar? Say less, I'm in.
The first thing that intrigued me about this one was the cover. I fell in love with it and honestly, I think it captures exactly what this story is about. Tom has been the captain of his team for a long time and has never won anything. But in comes Jax like a wrecking ball and he does exactly what I thought he was going to do: upend Tom's life for the better.
The beginning was a little slow but once the story picked up, I was into it. I can't wait to see what else happens in this series!
The first thing that intrigued me about this one was the cover. I fell in love with it and honestly, I think it captures exactly what this story is about. Tom has been the captain of his team for a long time and has never won anything. But in comes Jax like a wrecking ball and he does exactly what I thought he was going to do: upend Tom's life for the better.
The beginning was a little slow but once the story picked up, I was into it. I can't wait to see what else happens in this series!
January 31, 2026
This was an enjoyable read and a good start to the series, but it didn't fully click for me. I didn't feel fully invested in the relationship for a significant portion of the book, and I wish that more of the book was devoted to learning more about who Jax and Tom are, why they care so much about each other, and be left with the sense that they were going to stand the test of time. I did have a good time reading it, but I wanted a little bit more out of it and have high hopes for the next book in the series!
February 4, 2026
Don't even get me started on the timelines
November 7, 2025
The chemistry between the two was flat. The characters were kind of flat, and it ends on a cliffhanger for the next book. I think I was comparing it too much to similar hockey romance storylines that hit the beats way better than this one.
February 14, 2026
This is a tough one to review. I enjoy hockey romances, and I loved how much hockey was in this one. However, most of the plot is character development, which was underwhelming. Some things were done well, others not as much. I enjoyed it, but I'm uncertain if I'll pick up the next book in this series (which was set up in this book).
January 7, 2026
DNF @ 36%
The first like 15% felt very weird and unfocused? I couldn't get a proper read on what exactly the chapters were talking about since they were like 30% Jax and Tom interactions (where they felt like they moved on from ideas too quickly) and 70% hockey/team dynamic stuff that didn't seem to need to be relevant? IDK why we needed to see Jax interacting poorly with the WAGs since honestly it just made him seem misogynistic with how negatively he talked about them (and made Tom look even worse as a captain who'd been there for years but hadn't established clear connections with his team). I get Jax was projecting jealousy over the privilege female partners had, but there had to have been a better, less negative way of conveying that because it just made Jax hard to like as a character.
I didn't really care much for the other team members and struggled to keep them separate in my head. I'm not super sure why Jax needed to notice East' style being dated/his leg being hurt or Breezy's reluctance over marrying his GF (mentioned multiple times) or whoever the hell Howie, Moonie, Haysie, Luca, Phil were. They could've just been unnamed teammates or one off mentions considering their characters weren't directly impacting the dynamic between Jax and Tom.
And wtf was up with Tom suddenly punching a guy for being homophobic to Jax? Surely he was used to hearing that shit on the ice at that point? Tom later on saying that he had tuned them out until recently was not a good enough excuse. I get the author was trying to show us that he wanted to stand up for Jax because *feelings* but they'd barely had like two scenes alone at that point so I don't know where those feelings would've come from?
Also, it was kind of wild having a team in based in SF of all places apparently just casually be homophobic to each other. I'm not sure about how it actually is but I feel like homophobia would be more subdued and expressed more subtly there rather than "Howie thinks the f-slur is funny".
Was everyone in this story a child? Jax getting into a fight with his old captain because he couldn't tell him why he was traded was a melodramatic false dilemma. He said his old captain hated him because he thought Jax had asked for the trade and that Jax couldn't reveal that he didn't because he'd have to come out if he did, but that's not true? Surely if he'd been on any amount of good terms with the guy, he'd be able to say something like "I didn't want to be traded but management forced me because of shit I can't tell you" and there'd be no reason to not believe him? Unless the captain truly felt that strongly about Jax and held strong to his preconceived notions/was lied to, but then we'd needed to have seen that rather than have had it relegated to an off-screen argument.
I gave up when instead of developing the romance and dynamic between Jax and Tom, we get some weirdass side plot about Phil wanting to sue the team for their part in how he got hurt. A whopping 33% in the novel (116 pages) and I feel like Jax and Tom have shared around 5 meaningful scenes between them. Where's the chemistry? The romance? I love me a good slow burn, but this has no burn and like two other separate side plots being set up (the bad management, Breezy's love life).
My god, this story needed to remember that it was supposed to be a romance first and that all other side plots needed to work in service of making Jax and Tom fall in love. I have zero clue how Breezy's being italian was relevant and the bad team management should've helped bond Jax and Tom but it didn't.
TL;DR: Not really a lot of romance going on and the characters/setting is way too off-putting with the casual racism and misogyny piled on top of the already prevalent homophobia. 1.5 stars rounded down.
The first like 15% felt very weird and unfocused? I couldn't get a proper read on what exactly the chapters were talking about since they were like 30% Jax and Tom interactions (where they felt like they moved on from ideas too quickly) and 70% hockey/team dynamic stuff that didn't seem to need to be relevant? IDK why we needed to see Jax interacting poorly with the WAGs since honestly it just made him seem misogynistic with how negatively he talked about them (and made Tom look even worse as a captain who'd been there for years but hadn't established clear connections with his team). I get Jax was projecting jealousy over the privilege female partners had, but there had to have been a better, less negative way of conveying that because it just made Jax hard to like as a character.
I didn't really care much for the other team members and struggled to keep them separate in my head. I'm not super sure why Jax needed to notice East' style being dated/his leg being hurt or Breezy's reluctance over marrying his GF (mentioned multiple times) or whoever the hell Howie, Moonie, Haysie, Luca, Phil were. They could've just been unnamed teammates or one off mentions considering their characters weren't directly impacting the dynamic between Jax and Tom.
And wtf was up with Tom suddenly punching a guy for being homophobic to Jax? Surely he was used to hearing that shit on the ice at that point? Tom later on saying that he had tuned them out until recently was not a good enough excuse. I get the author was trying to show us that he wanted to stand up for Jax because *feelings* but they'd barely had like two scenes alone at that point so I don't know where those feelings would've come from?
Also, it was kind of wild having a team in based in SF of all places apparently just casually be homophobic to each other. I'm not sure about how it actually is but I feel like homophobia would be more subdued and expressed more subtly there rather than "Howie thinks the f-slur is funny".
Was everyone in this story a child? Jax getting into a fight with his old captain because he couldn't tell him why he was traded was a melodramatic false dilemma. He said his old captain hated him because he thought Jax had asked for the trade and that Jax couldn't reveal that he didn't because he'd have to come out if he did, but that's not true? Surely if he'd been on any amount of good terms with the guy, he'd be able to say something like "I didn't want to be traded but management forced me because of shit I can't tell you" and there'd be no reason to not believe him? Unless the captain truly felt that strongly about Jax and held strong to his preconceived notions/was lied to, but then we'd needed to have seen that rather than have had it relegated to an off-screen argument.
I gave up when instead of developing the romance and dynamic between Jax and Tom, we get some weirdass side plot about Phil wanting to sue the team for their part in how he got hurt. A whopping 33% in the novel (116 pages) and I feel like Jax and Tom have shared around 5 meaningful scenes between them. Where's the chemistry? The romance? I love me a good slow burn, but this has no burn and like two other separate side plots being set up (the bad management, Breezy's love life).
My god, this story needed to remember that it was supposed to be a romance first and that all other side plots needed to work in service of making Jax and Tom fall in love. I have zero clue how Breezy's being italian was relevant and the bad team management should've helped bond Jax and Tom but it didn't.
TL;DR: Not really a lot of romance going on and the characters/setting is way too off-putting with the casual racism and misogyny piled on top of the already prevalent homophobia. 1.5 stars rounded down.
October 31, 2025
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
I've rounded up my rating because it's a travesty that the overall rating on GR in no way reflects the integrity of this book's narrative quality.
And Ok yeah, if you want jock-bro energy and pages of flippant sex then this hockey romance is very much not for you.
It's no secret that I'm not a super fan of closet stories.
But guess what? Look around.
You can no longer say "it's the 21st century" or "2025" to deride the fear to be who you are and love who you love.
VITRIOLIC HATE, VIOLENCE AND BIGOTRY ARE PLATFORMED WHEN THAT SH!T SHOULD BE SHUT TF DOWN!
2025: NHL'S CODE OF CONDUCT IS WHERE EXACTLY? THE NHL K N O W I N G L Y GIVES CONTRACTS TO RAPISTS AND PREDATORS.
THE LEAGUE IS A CESSPOOL OF INEQUITY AND GARBAGE HUMANS ON THE ICE, OFF THE ICE, IN THE ARENAS, AND WATCHING FROM WHEREVER THEY GUZZLE FOX NEWS AND CRY ABOUT WOKENESS.
Barnes very much captured the excruciating reality of shutting down under the weight of decades of fear, and all the anxiety over the lack of safety and support Tom had LIVED, from 18 years old till now. To protect himself, because no one else would in a hypermasculine arena like pro hockey. To strive in a league where slurs and malicious power dynamics make the 2SLGBTQIA+ community vulnerable to instability, insecurity, bigotry and discrimination.
But ofc ymmv.
On my end, I've read a ton of MM Hockey and I thought Two for Holding was fantastic!! True to Barnes' narrative style, which I've loved since discovering her Hudson Valley Murder Mysteries series, this story was well-written, immersive and emotionally earnest.
The MCs and their teammates were strong and engaging characters. And though the plot was one we've seen before, it's a tried and true one that allowed the San Francisco Sea Lions to grow in their own way through the challenges posed by the new energy on the ice (trade), and the coaching staff (new coach) drama.
Tom and Jax were the most precious babes! I LOVED their yearning heart-space so much! Teammates dkng down on the dl will never get old for me!
Jax was a smoke-show, and his whole beingness was the sunshiney, charismatic, rags-to-riches bae we love to love! But it was in the portrayal of team captain Tom, where Barnes' astute capture of his multifaceted, aching texture of wants and needs stole my heart. Usually the "C" carries an aura of steadfast competence and leadership in the room. But I loved how Tom was closed up from more than hockey talk, and that he was inspired by Jax to grow and change and open up like only F E E L I N G truly loved could do.
ahhhh I'm living for Luca and Breezy rn stg! They're so fire already and I could read their chemistry forever!
I absolutely CANNOT WAIT for every single book in the Minor Penalties series, because S.B. Barnes is a brilliant author who adds much needed dimensionality and awareness in the MM Hockey subgenre which should be platformed and shown more respect than the rating on GR implies.
I've rounded up my rating because it's a travesty that the overall rating on GR in no way reflects the integrity of this book's narrative quality.
And Ok yeah, if you want jock-bro energy and pages of flippant sex then this hockey romance is very much not for you.
It's no secret that I'm not a super fan of closet stories.
But guess what? Look around.
You can no longer say "it's the 21st century" or "2025" to deride the fear to be who you are and love who you love.
VITRIOLIC HATE, VIOLENCE AND BIGOTRY ARE PLATFORMED WHEN THAT SH!T SHOULD BE SHUT TF DOWN!
2025: NHL'S CODE OF CONDUCT IS WHERE EXACTLY? THE NHL K N O W I N G L Y GIVES CONTRACTS TO RAPISTS AND PREDATORS.
THE LEAGUE IS A CESSPOOL OF INEQUITY AND GARBAGE HUMANS ON THE ICE, OFF THE ICE, IN THE ARENAS, AND WATCHING FROM WHEREVER THEY GUZZLE FOX NEWS AND CRY ABOUT WOKENESS.
Barnes very much captured the excruciating reality of shutting down under the weight of decades of fear, and all the anxiety over the lack of safety and support Tom had LIVED, from 18 years old till now. To protect himself, because no one else would in a hypermasculine arena like pro hockey. To strive in a league where slurs and malicious power dynamics make the 2SLGBTQIA+ community vulnerable to instability, insecurity, bigotry and discrimination.
But ofc ymmv.
On my end, I've read a ton of MM Hockey and I thought Two for Holding was fantastic!! True to Barnes' narrative style, which I've loved since discovering her Hudson Valley Murder Mysteries series, this story was well-written, immersive and emotionally earnest.
The MCs and their teammates were strong and engaging characters. And though the plot was one we've seen before, it's a tried and true one that allowed the San Francisco Sea Lions to grow in their own way through the challenges posed by the new energy on the ice (trade), and the coaching staff (new coach) drama.
Tom and Jax were the most precious babes! I LOVED their yearning heart-space so much! Teammates dkng down on the dl will never get old for me!
Jax was a smoke-show, and his whole beingness was the sunshiney, charismatic, rags-to-riches bae we love to love! But it was in the portrayal of team captain Tom, where Barnes' astute capture of his multifaceted, aching texture of wants and needs stole my heart. Usually the "C" carries an aura of steadfast competence and leadership in the room. But I loved how Tom was closed up from more than hockey talk, and that he was inspired by Jax to grow and change and open up like only F E E L I N G truly loved could do.
ahhhh I'm living for Luca and Breezy rn stg! They're so fire already and I could read their chemistry forever!
I absolutely CANNOT WAIT for every single book in the Minor Penalties series, because S.B. Barnes is a brilliant author who adds much needed dimensionality and awareness in the MM Hockey subgenre which should be platformed and shown more respect than the rating on GR implies.
January 27, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. I felt like author's love for the sport shines through, the characters are relatable, the plot is interesting, it's carefully and well written, and it's quite funny in places while also being touching and hot. It felt very realistic both in a hockey and a characterisation sense. There were a handful of times I would have suggested a line edit, although they were few and far enough in between that it didn't bother me much. There were also a couple of plot points that felt a little loose to me but again not enough that it hugely affected my reading experience.
Overall I had a great time reading this and am looking forward to the next in the series.
spoilers ahead for some more detail
Overall I had a great time reading this and am looking forward to the next in the series.
spoilers ahead for some more detail
October 31, 2025
MY OPINION: I haven’t read the first two books by this author, but this fell into the type of book I like to read as an ARC. I had some trouble with this book. The good news is I never DNF and kept chewing through since writing a whole book is hard to read through, and the author did pull up their stars in the last 25% of the story.
It’s a story of two hockey players, both on a team that has some struggles, and together they start pulling it back together.
Jax is new to the team and was immediately given an ‘A’, which was odd but was necessary for the story. There is a lot of time spent playing hockey, interacting with hockey players, and talking about what will make the game better. This is great, and being a hockey fan, keeping track of the choices and what they were doing as a team worked.
The subplot about the coaches was odd at best, and I didn’t get why they were still employed by an NHL team since they weren’t winning. I believe the GM would have identified and addressed these issues. It doesn’t feel realistic to me. The teaser at the end kind of explains things, but it was a weird part of the story. That lost me on being realistic.
The two men finding each other, figuring out an HFN, and realizing being alone isn’t what they want in life was engaging. For me, this is a happy ending for now; the epilogue really doesn’t give us a look at a future for them. The fact that the romance behind hockey being accepting of queer men is a painful reminder throughout the book, crashing into the reality of the situation with its single openly gay player. I guess I am not a fan of the truth.
The last 25% of the book was quite emotional. These two men must accept reality in ways that capture all the emotions. It tugged hard at my heart and, in a lot of ways, redeemed the book for me. It really brought so much heart to the story. There are some great spicy moments between the men, and Jax figuring out what Tom wants and needs is a treat. Overall, I liked the book even though it was a little tough to get through. Lots of hockey, and this isn't a book about what life would be like in the NHL where gay players were a thing; it’s hard to look at what hockey is right now.
It’s a story of two hockey players, both on a team that has some struggles, and together they start pulling it back together.
Jax is new to the team and was immediately given an ‘A’, which was odd but was necessary for the story. There is a lot of time spent playing hockey, interacting with hockey players, and talking about what will make the game better. This is great, and being a hockey fan, keeping track of the choices and what they were doing as a team worked.
The subplot about the coaches was odd at best, and I didn’t get why they were still employed by an NHL team since they weren’t winning. I believe the GM would have identified and addressed these issues. It doesn’t feel realistic to me. The teaser at the end kind of explains things, but it was a weird part of the story. That lost me on being realistic.
The two men finding each other, figuring out an HFN, and realizing being alone isn’t what they want in life was engaging. For me, this is a happy ending for now; the epilogue really doesn’t give us a look at a future for them. The fact that the romance behind hockey being accepting of queer men is a painful reminder throughout the book, crashing into the reality of the situation with its single openly gay player. I guess I am not a fan of the truth.
The last 25% of the book was quite emotional. These two men must accept reality in ways that capture all the emotions. It tugged hard at my heart and, in a lot of ways, redeemed the book for me. It really brought so much heart to the story. There are some great spicy moments between the men, and Jax figuring out what Tom wants and needs is a treat. Overall, I liked the book even though it was a little tough to get through. Lots of hockey, and this isn't a book about what life would be like in the NHL where gay players were a thing; it’s hard to look at what hockey is right now.
October 31, 2025
Thanks so much S.B. Barnes and Gay Romance Reviews for the book. I was given this book as an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review completely voluntarily.
This is book one in the Minor Penalties series - and yep, it’s a MM hockey romance (in case the cover didn’t already scream that at you).
This story follows Jax, a newly traded player who’s loud, flashy, and not afraid to take up space, and Tom, the Sea Lions’ team captain who’s been quietly retreating into himself after too many seasons without a trophy. When Tom gets called out for not exactly making Jax feel welcome, he tries to fix that. It’s awkward at first but as the two start spending more time together, Jax slowly coaxes Tom out of his shell and realizes he might be catching feelings along the way.
It’s a slow burn, so don’t expect these two to be tangled in sheets by chapter four. The tension builds gradually, and There are some cute moments between them that made me smile.
Now, I’ll be honest, there are a lot of hockey romances out there right now. The market is flooded, so a author really has to do something special to stand out. I liked this story. It had charm, emotional depth, and good character work. Did it completely wow me? No, not really. It was a good read, just not one that knocked me off my feet.
Also, I didn’t realize this was part of a series when I grabbed the ARC, and there are definitely some cliffhangers left hanging for side characters. I’m a little torn; I like setup for future books, but I also wanted a more complete wrap-up here.
That said, I’ll probably check out the next book in the Minor Penalties series and decide then if I’m sticking around for the full lineup.
Happy reading friends,
~ Maebae 💚
I’m a fellow book lover reviewing the good, the bad, and everything bookish in-between. All thoughts, opinions, and reactions are completely my own. I wasn’t paid, sponsored, or influenced in any way.
This is book one in the Minor Penalties series - and yep, it’s a MM hockey romance (in case the cover didn’t already scream that at you).
This story follows Jax, a newly traded player who’s loud, flashy, and not afraid to take up space, and Tom, the Sea Lions’ team captain who’s been quietly retreating into himself after too many seasons without a trophy. When Tom gets called out for not exactly making Jax feel welcome, he tries to fix that. It’s awkward at first but as the two start spending more time together, Jax slowly coaxes Tom out of his shell and realizes he might be catching feelings along the way.
It’s a slow burn, so don’t expect these two to be tangled in sheets by chapter four. The tension builds gradually, and There are some cute moments between them that made me smile.
Now, I’ll be honest, there are a lot of hockey romances out there right now. The market is flooded, so a author really has to do something special to stand out. I liked this story. It had charm, emotional depth, and good character work. Did it completely wow me? No, not really. It was a good read, just not one that knocked me off my feet.
Also, I didn’t realize this was part of a series when I grabbed the ARC, and there are definitely some cliffhangers left hanging for side characters. I’m a little torn; I like setup for future books, but I also wanted a more complete wrap-up here.
That said, I’ll probably check out the next book in the Minor Penalties series and decide then if I’m sticking around for the full lineup.
Happy reading friends,
~ Maebae 💚
I’m a fellow book lover reviewing the good, the bad, and everything bookish in-between. All thoughts, opinions, and reactions are completely my own. I wasn’t paid, sponsored, or influenced in any way.
November 2, 2025
I love a steamy and thrilling hockey romance as much as the next Heated Rivalry convert, but this book ended up being so much more. It is packed with authenticity and depth. The author does not shy away from exploring the institution of the NHL and how different identities navigate it, the complexities of the human condition, and the consequences of simplifying the human experience for the sake of entertainment. Don't get me wrong, escapism is great, and necessary (especially during these times), but considering so many of us readers are cis women, many straight cis women, it is important that as a part of the library of mm books, some remind us that these stories are based on very real lived experiences, experiences that serve more than plot points. By including these experiences, I also think authors honor them. S.B. Barnes did exactly that.
The book is entirely character-driven, and every single character shines along with the MCs. Barnes creates such depth and distinguishable personalities in her characters that while the book isn't plot-heavy, it is vibrant and GRIPPING (I read it in 2 days). I became immediately invested in Tom (protect him at all costs!) and Jax -- along with many of their other teammates (Breezy really grew on me). While troubling viewpoints exist (because they actually do exist in hockey and sports in general), they do not go uncontested nor unexplored. It was hard reading an abbreviated slur; in the book, however, I believe the author included it (just the once) to reflect a lived experience. Still, I could have done without it, so please take care while reading.
While perhaps not everything was done comfortably, that wasn't the point; the point was that it strove to be real and make people think--presumably, not those who actually need to escape these lived experiences, but those who are escaping into a fantastical version of them.
10/10 would recommend and only docked a few points because of the slur, but otherwise would give this a 4.5 (at least!).
The book is entirely character-driven, and every single character shines along with the MCs. Barnes creates such depth and distinguishable personalities in her characters that while the book isn't plot-heavy, it is vibrant and GRIPPING (I read it in 2 days). I became immediately invested in Tom (protect him at all costs!) and Jax -- along with many of their other teammates (Breezy really grew on me). While troubling viewpoints exist (because they actually do exist in hockey and sports in general), they do not go uncontested nor unexplored. It was hard reading an abbreviated slur; in the book, however, I believe the author included it (just the once) to reflect a lived experience. Still, I could have done without it, so please take care while reading.
While perhaps not everything was done comfortably, that wasn't the point; the point was that it strove to be real and make people think--presumably, not those who actually need to escape these lived experiences, but those who are escaping into a fantastical version of them.
10/10 would recommend and only docked a few points because of the slur, but otherwise would give this a 4.5 (at least!).
January 31, 2026
Tom keeps to himself and tries to be a good captain of his hockey team by leading by example. But his team is disjointed and he thus also carries the weight of not doing enough.
This is all because he keeps his sexuality a deep secret and has been alone since he had his sole experience as a teen 15 years earlier. His parents know but never talk about it, not even letting him say the words to them, so he already has a feeling of being rejected.
For Jax, being traded by his team burns because he had a hookup threaten to blackmail him and his PR team didn’t stand behind him. They spun it to seem he wanted to go, also meaning his teammates don’t know he didn’t want to leave them.
One night Tom sees a hookup leaving Jax’s room and he worries he’s a homophobe, but Tom is nicer to him and they become friends. Jax gets Tom to see how he needs to help the rookies more, and they also agree to ask the head coach to change their lines.
The coaches all have different ideas and one in particular works his group too hard, eventually leading to an injury in a game.
Finally, Tom comes out to Jax, and he feels safe enough to practice kissing with him, but they both feel it means a lot more. They begin a relationship that’s got a time limit because Jax is ready to come out and Tom isn’t.
The team sponsors an LGBTQIA+ centre to connect to the community and have a common cause for the team after two members make racist and homophobia comments. Again, the coaches don’t intervene, leaving it up to Tom to set everyone straight about this not being acceptable on their team.
Eventually Jax decides he doesn’t need to announce his sexuality, and Tom realizes he can be with Jax and people can come to their own conclusions.
I enjoyed this novel, with Tom becoming more confident and bringing his team together and Jax feeling more supported and less impulsive, thinking through his choices.
I received this ARC for free and am glad to provide my honest review with gratitude.
This is all because he keeps his sexuality a deep secret and has been alone since he had his sole experience as a teen 15 years earlier. His parents know but never talk about it, not even letting him say the words to them, so he already has a feeling of being rejected.
For Jax, being traded by his team burns because he had a hookup threaten to blackmail him and his PR team didn’t stand behind him. They spun it to seem he wanted to go, also meaning his teammates don’t know he didn’t want to leave them.
One night Tom sees a hookup leaving Jax’s room and he worries he’s a homophobe, but Tom is nicer to him and they become friends. Jax gets Tom to see how he needs to help the rookies more, and they also agree to ask the head coach to change their lines.
The coaches all have different ideas and one in particular works his group too hard, eventually leading to an injury in a game.
Finally, Tom comes out to Jax, and he feels safe enough to practice kissing with him, but they both feel it means a lot more. They begin a relationship that’s got a time limit because Jax is ready to come out and Tom isn’t.
The team sponsors an LGBTQIA+ centre to connect to the community and have a common cause for the team after two members make racist and homophobia comments. Again, the coaches don’t intervene, leaving it up to Tom to set everyone straight about this not being acceptable on their team.
Eventually Jax decides he doesn’t need to announce his sexuality, and Tom realizes he can be with Jax and people can come to their own conclusions.
I enjoyed this novel, with Tom becoming more confident and bringing his team together and Jax feeling more supported and less impulsive, thinking through his choices.
I received this ARC for free and am glad to provide my honest review with gratitude.
February 1, 2026
A long book for such a sparse story
There are spoilers ahead.
This was a really confusing book as it was all over the place. The MCs were complete opposites and should have sparked off each other but everything was muted and downplayed.
Tom was such a wet blanket as a captain and I have no idea how he got the captaincy and then retained it. It was sold as he was afraid of being outed, but he was completely buttoned up and did nothing to encourage the team, didn't know the first thing about any of them, and I wouldn't be surprised if he couldn't pick any of them out of a lineup (except Phil, and he kept him at arm's length too).
Jax, traded quietly by his old team for being gay, was the complete opposite of Tom and knew everyone and everything within a matter of days. He picked up on every weird thing happening with the team that no one else questioned, even though it was completely out of the norm and they were seasoned players.
There was no real chemistry between Tom and Jax, and no communication because they were both scared (of different things).
The team were either racist or homophobic or both, or indifferent to the racist and homophobic slurs. The only ones I liked were Breezy and Luca and that reminds me... I couldn't keep up with the names of the rest of them as they weren't called exclusively by their nickname or their real name, and most of them were just cardboard cutouts.
I struggled through to the end, only to find it fizzled out like a damp squib. The should-have-been massive drama with the coaches is continued in the next book and, to add insult to injury, Tom and Jax decided to continue their relationship in the closet after Jax was determined to come out, which was what caused all the tension and heartache between them. Going back in the closet without coming out of it is definitely a novel way to surprise your readers.
I have an ARC of the next book too, so I'm going to have to give it a go. Wish me luck.
There are spoilers ahead.
This was a really confusing book as it was all over the place. The MCs were complete opposites and should have sparked off each other but everything was muted and downplayed.
Tom was such a wet blanket as a captain and I have no idea how he got the captaincy and then retained it. It was sold as he was afraid of being outed, but he was completely buttoned up and did nothing to encourage the team, didn't know the first thing about any of them, and I wouldn't be surprised if he couldn't pick any of them out of a lineup (except Phil, and he kept him at arm's length too).
Jax, traded quietly by his old team for being gay, was the complete opposite of Tom and knew everyone and everything within a matter of days. He picked up on every weird thing happening with the team that no one else questioned, even though it was completely out of the norm and they were seasoned players.
There was no real chemistry between Tom and Jax, and no communication because they were both scared (of different things).
The team were either racist or homophobic or both, or indifferent to the racist and homophobic slurs. The only ones I liked were Breezy and Luca and that reminds me... I couldn't keep up with the names of the rest of them as they weren't called exclusively by their nickname or their real name, and most of them were just cardboard cutouts.
I struggled through to the end, only to find it fizzled out like a damp squib. The should-have-been massive drama with the coaches is continued in the next book and, to add insult to injury, Tom and Jax decided to continue their relationship in the closet after Jax was determined to come out, which was what caused all the tension and heartache between them. Going back in the closet without coming out of it is definitely a novel way to surprise your readers.
I have an ARC of the next book too, so I'm going to have to give it a go. Wish me luck.
October 22, 2025
Okay so while I was reading this book, I was mostly enjoying it despite a few pet peeves of mine. But as I sit down and write this review, I keep remembering different things that bothered me.
First, the character of Tom just read very boring and unlikeable. I understand that the author was going for a grumpy, loner type but Tom basically had no personality, which makes it uninteresting for a reader. Honestly, I was much more interested in the side characters than I was in Tom or even Jax.
While Jax was kind of likeable, and definitely had a more defined personality, I started getting really annoyed with the misogynistic/sexist comments he would make about the WAGs. I understand that this got linked back to his bad experiences with men, but it just went on too long before that was clarified and was perpetuating one of my biggest problems in a lot MM romance—misogyny. I also felt like the plot fell kind of flat? I didn't fully understand the stakes and the conflict, and the ended was...anticlimactic?
There were a few things that I did like! I actually liked the little snippets at the beginning of the chapters with PR clips and social media captions and comments. I thought that was a nice detail that offered more to the story. I also enjoyed that there was an overarching conflict around coaching issues that I'm assuming is going to carry on to the next book in the series. And I did like that we're starting to see the seeds planted for future relationships in the series.
Ultimately, hockey romance is an oversaturated genre these days. So, unless a book just hits it out of the park, it's going to be hard to break through all the noise and set yourself apart from the rest. I don't think this is a bad book, and like I said, I did enjoy it while I was reading it. But if a friend of mine wanted hockey romance recs, it wouldn't be on my list.
First, the character of Tom just read very boring and unlikeable. I understand that the author was going for a grumpy, loner type but Tom basically had no personality, which makes it uninteresting for a reader. Honestly, I was much more interested in the side characters than I was in Tom or even Jax.
While Jax was kind of likeable, and definitely had a more defined personality, I started getting really annoyed with the misogynistic/sexist comments he would make about the WAGs. I understand that this got linked back to his bad experiences with men, but it just went on too long before that was clarified and was perpetuating one of my biggest problems in a lot MM romance—misogyny. I also felt like the plot fell kind of flat? I didn't fully understand the stakes and the conflict, and the ended was...anticlimactic?
There were a few things that I did like! I actually liked the little snippets at the beginning of the chapters with PR clips and social media captions and comments. I thought that was a nice detail that offered more to the story. I also enjoyed that there was an overarching conflict around coaching issues that I'm assuming is going to carry on to the next book in the series. And I did like that we're starting to see the seeds planted for future relationships in the series.
Ultimately, hockey romance is an oversaturated genre these days. So, unless a book just hits it out of the park, it's going to be hard to break through all the noise and set yourself apart from the rest. I don't think this is a bad book, and like I said, I did enjoy it while I was reading it. But if a friend of mine wanted hockey romance recs, it wouldn't be on my list.
October 3, 2025
I liked it, but it's different. We've read this plot before - it's the new player gets transferred in (he's kicked out of his last team because they find out he's gay and don't want to deal with it), meets the other closeted player, they fall in love, but can't be together because they're both in the closet. Eventually they figure their shit out and move in together. I liked the way they decided to handle their affair in the end - and it's NOT making big announcements and having everyone tell them they love them - it's something more realistic than that. They get their HEA, but the book ends on a cliffhanger - that's the mystery about what's going on with the coaches. I liked this book well enough to want to read the 2nd book to find out.
There's a mellow vibe to this - not a lot of high emotions or angst. These 2 characters are playing parts in order to fit in, and as such they are both a bit depressed and lonely and keep to themselves. They're both more likely to just accept that they won't get what they want, instead of fighting for it (low self esteem issues). The whole in-the-closet thing is handled differently than most books I've read. These guys are scared to death to come out. They are both certain they will lose their jobs, the fans will hate them, and that their families will hate them. There's more homophobia from the team, too, than you normally see. This is a romance, but it's not a fairy tale. The team isn't winning the Stanley Cup here - in fact the coaches seem to be trying to sabotage the team. And the team itself doesn't mesh together well at all at the beginning.
I enjoyed the 2 mains, and a number of the side characters. Everybody is kind of low-key, though. It's just...different. Good but different.
There's a mellow vibe to this - not a lot of high emotions or angst. These 2 characters are playing parts in order to fit in, and as such they are both a bit depressed and lonely and keep to themselves. They're both more likely to just accept that they won't get what they want, instead of fighting for it (low self esteem issues). The whole in-the-closet thing is handled differently than most books I've read. These guys are scared to death to come out. They are both certain they will lose their jobs, the fans will hate them, and that their families will hate them. There's more homophobia from the team, too, than you normally see. This is a romance, but it's not a fairy tale. The team isn't winning the Stanley Cup here - in fact the coaches seem to be trying to sabotage the team. And the team itself doesn't mesh together well at all at the beginning.
I enjoyed the 2 mains, and a number of the side characters. Everybody is kind of low-key, though. It's just...different. Good but different.
January 15, 2026
I love this story!!!
I have to say that Tom is a very attractive character. He is the perfect hockey robot and cap. He follows the strick meal plans and curfews, train relentlessly, performs consistently, uses sponsor products in his private time, wears the team's T-shirts and hoodies, and is literally a role model for rookies. He avoids any hint of imperfection, you could say he is just terrified to be found'unperfect', and he chose to keep closet and he has stayed alone for 15 years, no dating and no hooking up. On the surface, he is flawless. Or you may get this aching sense that no one truely knows or loves him, that he has no safe harbor. You just want someone to see and live him.
Jax is his opposite in may ways. He comes from a wonderfully supportive family. However, his previous team traded him the moment they found out he was gay. That left him with a deep fear, not of being gay, but of being found out and traded again.
The magnetic pull between them is intense, but they approach this central conflict from opposite ends. Tom would rather be alone forever than risk exposure, while Jax has reached a point of acceptance: this is who he is.
What makes this story stand out is how the author resolves this tension. Instead of taking the well-trodden path of a dramatic public comingt-out and a crowd-pleasing happy ending, she chooses a more moderate route for them. Jax is about making peace with himself, understanding that he owns no one an explanation or a label. He and Tom simply continue. They date, they kiss, but they don't feel they should make a declaration.
This is also where the book leaves you with a poignant sense of imcompleteness. The story just stops here. But as a reader, you're left feeling it is not quite over.
I have to say that Tom is a very attractive character. He is the perfect hockey robot and cap. He follows the strick meal plans and curfews, train relentlessly, performs consistently, uses sponsor products in his private time, wears the team's T-shirts and hoodies, and is literally a role model for rookies. He avoids any hint of imperfection, you could say he is just terrified to be found'unperfect', and he chose to keep closet and he has stayed alone for 15 years, no dating and no hooking up. On the surface, he is flawless. Or you may get this aching sense that no one truely knows or loves him, that he has no safe harbor. You just want someone to see and live him.
Jax is his opposite in may ways. He comes from a wonderfully supportive family. However, his previous team traded him the moment they found out he was gay. That left him with a deep fear, not of being gay, but of being found out and traded again.
The magnetic pull between them is intense, but they approach this central conflict from opposite ends. Tom would rather be alone forever than risk exposure, while Jax has reached a point of acceptance: this is who he is.
What makes this story stand out is how the author resolves this tension. Instead of taking the well-trodden path of a dramatic public comingt-out and a crowd-pleasing happy ending, she chooses a more moderate route for them. Jax is about making peace with himself, understanding that he owns no one an explanation or a label. He and Tom simply continue. They date, they kiss, but they don't feel they should make a declaration.
This is also where the book leaves you with a poignant sense of imcompleteness. The story just stops here. But as a reader, you're left feeling it is not quite over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2026
**I received an electronic copy post-publication from Gay Romance Reviews.**
Actual rating: 3.5
SB Barnes introduces hockey romance series Minor Penalties with book one Two for Holding. Readers follow captain of the San Francisco Sea Lions, Tom Crowler. A veteran forward, Tom is disconnected from his team which has never seemed to really get momentum in their division. An unexpected trade leads to the addition of forward Jaxon Grant. Jax didn't want to be traded, but a potential PR nightmare involving his potential outing puts him in San Francisco's starting line quickly. His loud, vibrant, impulsive personality gives the Sea Lions a much needed spark. When Tom accidentally catches Jax with a hookup, Tom is forced to confront his own identity out loud.
This is a fun team and setup to follow. Book 2 is soon to release and I can already see where the concurrent timeline of that story fits in neatly. There is a good bit of hockey tossed about rather than fully glossing over gameplay in favor of the romance; Barnes strikes a nice balance here. Likewise, there is a decent balance between internal and external conflict for our main couple, though things lean heavier in favor of internal conflict for Tom specifically. These characters feel like they have plenty of room for Barnes to expand the series with their stories. That being said, I'm not sure why this series has me landing in the above average but not amazing mindset. The execution was solid, but I'm left wanting a bit more from the narrative.
Overall, I would happily recommend this book and series to anyone interested in more gay hockey romance.
Actual rating: 3.5
SB Barnes introduces hockey romance series Minor Penalties with book one Two for Holding. Readers follow captain of the San Francisco Sea Lions, Tom Crowler. A veteran forward, Tom is disconnected from his team which has never seemed to really get momentum in their division. An unexpected trade leads to the addition of forward Jaxon Grant. Jax didn't want to be traded, but a potential PR nightmare involving his potential outing puts him in San Francisco's starting line quickly. His loud, vibrant, impulsive personality gives the Sea Lions a much needed spark. When Tom accidentally catches Jax with a hookup, Tom is forced to confront his own identity out loud.
This is a fun team and setup to follow. Book 2 is soon to release and I can already see where the concurrent timeline of that story fits in neatly. There is a good bit of hockey tossed about rather than fully glossing over gameplay in favor of the romance; Barnes strikes a nice balance here. Likewise, there is a decent balance between internal and external conflict for our main couple, though things lean heavier in favor of internal conflict for Tom specifically. These characters feel like they have plenty of room for Barnes to expand the series with their stories. That being said, I'm not sure why this series has me landing in the above average but not amazing mindset. The execution was solid, but I'm left wanting a bit more from the narrative.
Overall, I would happily recommend this book and series to anyone interested in more gay hockey romance.
December 3, 2025
I am a longtime SB Barnes fan and I had an absolutely wonderful time reading this book. It's a delightful, spicy romp, and a standalone, which I was not expecting (0ther books in the series follow different characters). So while I am desperate for the next one, it still ended on a very satisfying conclusion. Tom and Jax are so cute! And so dumb! And I love them. Tom is such a dork and Jax is such a himbo and they shouldn't work but they do and they are so cute.
I know absolutely nothing about hockey and don't really care to learn, so there were a few things that went over my head, but overall I could follow the romance and plot quite well. I do think my enjoyment would have been enhanced if I understood even the least bit about hockey, and while the glossary in the back was helpful, it couldn't explain key concepts of sports in general that I never knew. Luckily, it's not really about hockey so much as it is about two gay men falling for each other.
If you're a fan of Barnes's other series, this is not like Heart First. You'll catch some similar nuances in the chaotic dumbassery of these two and the way they make bad decisions and say the wrong things, but the plot is a bit slower-paced, it's a lighter read, and it's even more character-driven. The two series actually have a lot in common, though, and it certainly helped fill the hole left behind when I finished Heart First and Second Chance.
I will definitely be continuing this series. Still don't care about hockey but I care about THEM, dammit.
I know absolutely nothing about hockey and don't really care to learn, so there were a few things that went over my head, but overall I could follow the romance and plot quite well. I do think my enjoyment would have been enhanced if I understood even the least bit about hockey, and while the glossary in the back was helpful, it couldn't explain key concepts of sports in general that I never knew. Luckily, it's not really about hockey so much as it is about two gay men falling for each other.
If you're a fan of Barnes's other series, this is not like Heart First. You'll catch some similar nuances in the chaotic dumbassery of these two and the way they make bad decisions and say the wrong things, but the plot is a bit slower-paced, it's a lighter read, and it's even more character-driven. The two series actually have a lot in common, though, and it certainly helped fill the hole left behind when I finished Heart First and Second Chance.
I will definitely be continuing this series. Still don't care about hockey but I care about THEM, dammit.
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